High ionic conductivity rechargeable solid state batteries with an organic electrode

Abstract

An improved rechargeable battery may utilize materials that are entirely solid-state. The battery may utilize at least one organic active material for an electrode. The battery may utilize a cathode that comprises quinone(s). An electrolyte of the battery may be an ion-conducting inorganic compound. An anode of the battery may comprise an alkali metal. Further, a carbonyl group of the quinone(s) of the cathode may be reduced into a phenolate and coordinated to an alkali metal ion during discharge and vice versa during charging.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery formed of solid-state materials, the battery comprising:
 a cathode comprising active materials that, are organic and comprise at least one quinone substructure, wherein the redox-active groups in the active materials consist of the at least one quinone substructure, where carbonyl groups (C═O) are reduced into C—OM groups (M=Li or Na) during discharge, and the C—OM groups oxidized into carbonyl groups during charge; 
 an electrolyte in contact with the cathode, wherein the electrolyte is entirely inorganic, wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one inorganic compound that is ion-conducting, wherein the at least one inorganic compound has a formula of A x B y C z ,
 where A is chosen from Li, Na or combinations thereof, 
 B is chosen from P, As, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, B, Al, Ga, In, TI, Ca, Ba, Ti, Cu, Ag, Zn, La, Ce, V, Ta, or combinations thereof, 
 C is chosen from O, N, S, Se, Sn, or combinations thereof, 
 x/z=0.5-1.0 and 
 y/z=0.2-0.6; and 
 
 an anode comprising an alkali metal, wherein the anode is in contact with the electrolyte and electrically isolated from the cathode, and all materials making up the cathode, the electrolyte, and the anode are solid-state materials. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is crystalline, semi-crystalline, or amorphous. 
     
     
       3. The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one quinone comprises 1,2-benzoquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone substructures. 
     
     
       4. The battery of  claim 1 , wherein a carbonyl group of the at least one quinone is reduced into a phenolate and coordinated to an alkali metal ion during discharge. 
     
     
       5. The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises Li, Na, or an alloy comprising Li or Na. 
     
     
       6. The battery of  claim 5 , wherein the anode is capable of (de)alloying/deposition-stripping/storing-releasing of at least one metal-ion chosen from Li, Na, or combinations thereof during charge-discharge of the battery. 
     
     
       7. The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte has high ionic conductivity of 10 −3  to 10 −2  S cm −1  at room temperature.